The Environmental Protection Agency today issued a waiver to allow E15 (15 percent ethanol fuel) to continue to be sold this summer. The temporary waiver under the Clean Air Act was issued “to address extreme and unusual fuel supply circumstances caused by a confluence of events, including the ongoing war in Ukraine and conflict in the Middle East, that are …
Iowa Ag Secretary Urges EPA to Approve Summer E15
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig this week sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan urging him to immediately sign an “emergency waiver” to allow summer sales of E15 (15% ethanol fuel) this year. In February, the EPA approved a request by Governor Reynolds and seven other Midwest governors to allow the sale of E15 fuel …
New Tailpipe Emissions Rules Would Impact Corn Demand
The National Corn Growers Association reports new tailpipe emissions rules would be a “major shock on demand for corn used to produce ethanol” that could result in potentially devastating impacts on farmers and the rural economy. EPA’s recently released final rule for multi-pollutant emissions standards for model years 2027 and later light-duty and medium-duty vehicles dictates that sales of non-electric …
Farmers and Ethanol Workers Call for E15 Waiver
Nearly 1,000 farmers, ethanol industry workers and other supporters from across the country sent a letter to President Biden this week calling for action to allow continued access to E15 throughout the upcoming summer driving season. “With the 2024 summer driving season just a few months away, we are urging your administration to take additional action that will ensure consumers …
Clean Fuels Disappointed in Heavy Duty Vehicle Standards
The Environmental Protection Agency was very proud of its new “Strongest-Ever Greenhouse Gas Standards for Trucks” released on Friday, but Clean Fuels Alliance America was extremely disappointed in the outcome. EPA did not evaluate use of biodiesel and renewable diesel as part of engine systems to meet the new standards, focusing primarily on tailpipe emissions. However, the agency considered a …
EPA Committee Gives Ag Seat at the Table
EPA Administrator Michael Regan recently responded to recommendations from the agency’s Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee (FRRCC) on how EPA can best support the agriculture sector’s climate mitigation and adaptation goals. FRRCC consists of representatives appointed by the agency that provide independent policy advice and information on a range of environmental issues that are of importance to …
EPA Releases New Emissions Standards Favoring EVs
The Environmental Protection Agency released its final rule implementing new emissions standards for light and medium-duty vehicles that seeks to accelerate adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) by requiring approximately two-thirds of annual sales of new light-duty vehicles be EVs by the year 2032. Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Geoff Cooper says the new standards effectively disregard the carbon …
New EPA Ag Office Head Addresses ACE Fly-in
The head of EPA’s new Office of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Rod Snyder addressed the 13th American Coalition for Ethanol DC Fly-in Thursday and had a lot to talk about of interest to ethanol stakeholders, not the least of which was updates to the GREET model for implementation of Inflation Reduction Act tax credits. “It’s better to do something right …
Coalition Urges EPA to Reject Petition
A coalition representing farmers, ethanol producers, fuel retailers and fuel distribution companies is urging the Environmental Protection Agency to reject a recent petition by CVR Energy to alter the Renewable Fuel Standard’s credit trading program, which they say would ultimately lead to higher prices for consumers. The organizations include the Renewable Fuels Association; National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS); NATSO, …
Biden Administration Delays GREET Model Revision
Officials from the Biden administration faced over 11,000 farmers and agricultural industry representatives today at the Commodity Classic in Houston and announced that they will miss a self-imposed March 1 deadline to complete modifications to the GREET model for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). “We’re going to take a few more weeks – and I mean weeks, not months – to …